Thread-protector.



P. J. SERUM.

THREAD PROTECTOR. LPPLIOATION IILBD 1120.24, 1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. J. SHRUM. THREAD PROTECTOR. APPLIOATION FILED 9120.24, 1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911,

2 BHEETS-8HBET 2.

TES PATENT onnroE.

PETER J'. SERUM, OF MONACA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO COLONA MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENN SYLYANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- Application filed December 24, 1909. Serial No. 534,861. a

. THREAD-PROTECTOR.

985,946. Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. SERUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monaca, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread-Protectors, of which. the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention consists in improvements in thread protectors for the threaded ends of pipe, tubing, rods, etc., and has for its obect to rovide a simple, cheap and easily adjust device which may be applied by insertion over the end of the pipe or other article without screwing.

The invention consists of two'parts, an inner thread-engaging element having a thread-engaging flange and projecting locking tongues,.and an outer main protecting ring adapted to be inserted over and to embrace said element and all of the thread of the pipe, and to be held thereon by the said tongues, as more fully hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which F lgure 1 is an end view of the protector as applied to the threaded end of a pipe. Fig. 2 is a vertical section view on the line II, II, of Fi 1. Fig. 3is a perspective view of the thread-engaging and ring-holding element. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a modified construction of the thread-engaging flange. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified construction, employing resilient thread-engaging tongues. Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showmg a modified construction of the invention, assembled. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the inner thread-engaging ring, showing a modified construction of the spirally arranged thread-engaging element. 1

In the drawings, 2 represents the threadedpi or other threaded article to be protect havin the usual spiral threads ex tending bac twardly alon its end, over which the protector is to is inserted sufiiciently far to completely protect the threads.

3 is a ring-like locking element which may be completely circular or of any desired circular continuity but having separated ends as shown, so as to provide for resiliency and adjustment. Said ring is turned inwardly at one end providin a thread-engaging flange 4, as indicate ,in Fig. 4, or

the threads for the desired distance.

provided with a plurality of sectional flanges 4, as in Fig. 3, the function of which is to engage the threads when the ring is inserted over the article to be protected and operating to hold it fixedly in place. The ring 3 is I royided with any desired number of inwar ly bent looking or holding tongues 5 operating, when the ring is inserted upon the pipe, to limit its-movement endwise and locate it in position.

6 represents the outer protecting ring which may be integral, or jointed as indicated at 7 and WhlCh is provided with an outer inwardly turned peripheral flange 8.

The ring 3 havin been inserted over the end of the pipe and its flange element 4 01-4 engaging the thread, the ring 6 is then inserted over the ring, operating to press it or its flange 4 or 4 inwardly into locking engagement with the thread, after which the tongues 5 are then bent outwardly as indicated at 9, positively engaging the flange 8 as shown. As thus applied and connected the ring 3 is in firm locking engagement with the thread and by its tongues 5 posi- In Fig. 5, the ring 3 is shown as continu- I one and integral and provided with a plurality of inwardly extending resilient threadengaging tongues 10, having inwardly extending fla cs 11, which tongues, however, are prefera ly deflected outwardly sufliciently far to rmit the thread engaging elements to be inserted longitudinally over The ring 3 is also inwardly exten mg locking-tongues 5 which operate in the same manner as tongues 5 to engage and hold the flange 8 of the rin 6. In using this formof ring it is inserted over. the pipe as stated, after-which the ring 6 is applied and will press the terminal flanges 11 into binding engagement with the threads, the ring 6 then being engaged -by bending the holding tongues 5" outwardly around its flange 8. With either construction, it will be observed that the inner' locking ring, being preferably of comparatively thin, light sheet metal, occupies aminimum of space and Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

The invention is particularly designed for i use with pipes of large sizes having comthe ring, insurmg proper engagement and paratively coarse threads and requiring heavy protecting rings. It thus provides in a simple and cheap construction, comparatively light, thin thread-engaging portions and locking tongues, with a main protecting ring of the desiredor necessary strength and weight. -When desired, theparts may be assem led together before application, and secured upon the threaded article as a single connected structure.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the device in such condition forapplication, in which the parts are generally similar to those just described. In such construction, the inner ring 3 of thin sheet metal having its inner end portion bent inwardly to provide a thread engagin flange 4, extends annularly around an forms the terminal threaden aging portion of the outer ring 6 and is 0 -set as indicated at 5 to correspond to the spiral arrangement of the threads. 6 is the outer protecting ring which may be integral or joined at one side andwhich is provided with an inwardly turned peripheral flange 7 adapted to extend inwardly from the end of the threaded article. The inner ring 3 is fixedly secured to'the main protecting ring 6 by means of projecting tongues 8 which are bent outwardly around the flange 7 at intervals tightly grasping it and positivelyholdin the ring 3 in rotative engagement therewith; Instead of making the threadengagin'g flange 4* continuous as indicated in Fig. 6, it may be cut out at intervals rovidinglseparate 'flange sections 4* as in ig. 7, suc flange sections bein arranged spirally in the same manner an ofl-set asat 5". When thus constructed, the device is inserted upon the threaded article by screwing in the manner of an ordinary threaded'ring,

and it will be observed that the inner end of the ring 6' projects beyond theflange elements? or 4 suiiiciently far to centralize completel covering the threads. The particular a vanta of the heavy outer ring and the. light inner ring is in providing thread-engaging ortionsof thin metal 1yi'lhiefh 1ilnlay bfe ma e at tipw 1 lzlestdand gave e ac' 'tyo en g et ea s-Wit out any especial while the means for securing the inner ring to the outer protecting ring obviates the necessity or expense of sea-94a riveting .or otherwise securing the parts together.

The device is comparatively simple and cheap in construction .and operation; it is readily removed after use, in either manner of. application, by bending the retaining tongues back to releasethe outer ring, and may be used over again in the same way as described, or by merely unscrewing the connected parts as a whole and discardin The specific construction, form or design of the arts m ybe changed or varied-to suit di erent conditions of use by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within ing claims:

-What 'I claim 1. A thread protector consisting ofan inner ring having a thread-engaging element, an outer r' and means forming an integral art o one of the rings and bent aroun the exterior of the other for locking one of said rings withthe other.

2. A thread protector consisting of an inner ring having a thread-engaglng flange, an outer ring adapted to compress said flange into engagement with the threads, and-means forming an inte al part of one oftherings and bent aroun the exterior of the other for locking one'of said rings with the other; g i n 3. A thread protector consisting of an in- .ner ring having a thread-engaging flange and a lockin tongne, and an outer ring a'da ted to em race said inner ring andto be fixe ly engaged by said locking tongue. I

4, The combination of an inner ring'having compressible thread-engaging portions and locking tongues, and an outer ring adapted to embrace said inner ring and to be fixedly engaged by said locking tongues.

the scope of the follow 5'. The combination of an inner divided.- ring, having a thread-engaging.flange and locking tongues, and an outer ring adapted to embrace said inner ring and to-be fixedly engaged by said tongues.

6. A thread protector comprising a ring having depressible thread-engaging portions I and locking tongues, and an outer flanged ring adapted to embrace said inner ring and to be fixedly engaged by bending said tongues outwardly over its flange, substantially as described.

, 7 The combination witha threaded article, of an inner ring having depressible threadengaging portions and "locking tongues, and an outer flanged ring embracing said inner ring and depressing said thread-engagindg portions into enga ment with thethrea o the pipe and fixe y connected with said inner nng by said locking tongues, substantially as set forth.

8. In a thread protector, the combination of an inner ring having a spirally arranged'thread engaging flange and securing tongues, and an outer protecting ring fixedly engaged by said tongues and thereby holding the thread-engaging flange in operative position, substantially as set forth.

9. In a thread protector, the combination of an inner ring of thin sheet metal having an inwardly extending spirally arranged flange, an outer (protecting ring, and integral tongues fixe 1y bent over into holding engagement with the end of said outer ring, 10 substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER J. SHRUM.

Witnesses:

H. L. GRIMMELL,' J. T. WALSH. 

